Rural Sprawl in Metropolitan Portland

A comparison of growth management in Oregon and Washington

The greater metro Portland, Oregon, straddles two states, offering an intriguing natural experiment for gauging the effects of different growth management laws. The Oregon side operates under the nation’s oldest and most mature growth management system, while the Washington side is governed by a newer law.

On paper, the growth management programs share many features. Yet in practice, their records have produced startlingly different results: Over the last two decades, Clark County, Washington, accounted for the large majority of all rural and exurban housing and population growth in the greater Portland area.

Sightline’s report, Rural Sprawl in Metropolitan Portland, examines trends in Portland-area development using census data from the last two decades. Two maps clearly reveal how the lion’s share of rural sprawl has occurred across the Washington border.

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Founded in 1993, Sightline Institute is committed to making the Northwest a global model of sustainability, with strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. We work to promote smart policy ideas and monitor the region's progress towards sustainability.